Keanekaragaman Hayati Sekitar Kita – Tapak Dara (Catharanthus roseus)

Abstract

Madagascar periwinkle flower (Catharanthus roseus) is a shrub that belongs to the Apocynaceae family. This plant has been known for a long time as an ornamental plant and also in traditional medicine as a medicine. Catharanthus roseus has been traditionally exploited for the treatment of diabetes in many regions of the world, there is a lot of potential for plants as medicinal plants. The Philippines uses a decoction of the roots of Catharanthus roseus as an emmenagogue (to facilitate the flow of menstrual fluid), and a decoction of the leaves to treat diabetes. The Unani use the myrtle of the plant's leaves as a remedy for gonorrhea. In the Limpopo Province of South Africa, the plant is used to treat menorrhagia, diabetes and gonorrhea. Other ailments that can be treated with this plant include digestive disorders such as gastritis, loss of appetite, diarrhea, enteritis, and it is even used for asthma, depression, cystitis, muscle pain, gums and nosebleeds. The pharmacological potential of Catharanthus roseus are anti-cancer, anti-alzheimer, anti-psoriasis, anti-inflammatory, anti-diabetic, anti-hypertension, anti-microbial, anti-siarrheal, anti-ulcher, wound healing, and hypoliprmic.